Thursday, October 29, 2015

The horse world is up in arms this week after the brutal slaying of a prized Grand Prix show jumper in Florida near Tampa over the weekend. You can read the story here.

It's disturbing to say the least and you can be certain that those who live in Florida where this has been happening are battening down the hatches, putting in surveillance cameras and hiring guards. Hoping that something positive can come out of all of this in some small way. If looking for a silver lining, then perhaps this ISIS-like crime will bring to light the number of slaughterhouses out there (not just killing horses inhumanely for meat) but also killing many other animals as well. There is a non-profit, The Animal Recovery Mission (ARM), that is behind this movement and it's going on my list of causes to support. A reference is made to them here. ARM's web site can be found here. It appears that they are doing a lot of good.

An amazing $44,000+ dollars has been raised for a reward leading to information about who is responsible for this crime. You can donate to this fund here. Money talks! Just ask any member of Congress about that!

This terrible act of violence will not go unpunished. Hearts and prayers go out to the owners of this horse, Debbie and Steve Stephens, who are both legends in the horse world. Debbie is a renowned show jumper rider and Steve is one of the world's top course designers, designing courses for the Olympic Games among other venues around the world. Hoping that something good can come out of all of this!

Tuesday, October 27, 2015

Oh how I wish I had time to plan and put on a Breeder's Cup Farewell Party for my favorite race horse, American Pharoah. Post time is 5:35 pm EDT on Saturday (from Keeneland in Lexington, KY) and so far the dark bay is the favorite, drawing a very good post position, four. Okay, so what if we could throw one together at the very last minute? Let's give it a try.

For starters, I'd need a cute new fall dress. This one from the Sara Campbell Boutique in Richmond would do the trick. Love the necklace.

Of course the house would need to be decorated in what I call "post modern American race horse."

Something for your door is a welcome addition and it sets the tone for the party. I like wreaths but this is so easy to do. Buy or make a bow, add a D-ring bit and an old horse show ribbon. Even a caveman could do this! Make the bow big if you can and add a large ribbon.

This tablecloth from Pomegranate would work well. If you can't use a tablecloth, they also have napkins and placemats in the same pattern. Save it for your Derby Party next year.

This came from Etsy. Perfect!

Use your old trophies for wine buckets.

Or use this one that was recently on sale at Pottery Barn. Sadly it's sold out now.

A great table centerpiece is always fun if you have that talent (I do not). But I love this one!

Another fun thing to do is to have people draw numbers for the winning race with prizes for win, place and show! Here are some fun prize ideas:

These are all from LV Harkness in Lexington, KY. Check them out if you have not! This is an official Breeder's Cup Mint Julep Cup. For the winner of course!

A Breeder's Cup candle for "place."

And these cute coasters for "show".

And they're off! Cannot wait to see AP run again, albeit for the last time!

Monday, October 26, 2015

Last fall we donated a perpetual trophy to our local horse show and this year, we asked artist Sharon Campbell to create a keepsake for this year's winner. She modeled this on photos of Zelda and it looks just like her!

Sharon does great work. I have blogged about her before. If you want an exquisite painting or special pottery (it makes great awards for horse shows!) then you should contact her. Here is a link to her web site. May the best horse in the Adults win this!

Friday, October 23, 2015

One thing my late father taught me was to give. He was one of the most generous people I have ever known and he'd be proud to know that I am trying to give to others in need when I can....

I am reaching out to others in hopes that they might give too! Let me start by saying that I do not know this lady. I have never met her. But Pam Hayden had a terrible stroke earlier this year while working at a horse show. She ran a coffee trailer that followed the horse show circuit.

Last spring while working
at a horse show, she had a massive heart attack and then stroke, and her
husband has been doing a terrific job of continuing to run the business while caring for Pam at the same time. Prior to the
Coffee Design Trailer, Pam groomed for many top trainers, as
well as being a wonderful horse show mom to her daughter for years. Pam
has always been compassionate, caring and dedicated to both the horses
and the horse show community.

Many of us have wanted to do something to ease their burden. In
speaking with Peter (her husband), one of his concerns is that their old
Suburban will not last much longer. Trainer Stacey Schaefer has a
connection with a dealership that has a used one we can get for them if
we can raise enough money to buy it. The price is $28,000. Time is an
issue because it's at a dealership.

I know everyone is stretched
these days, but if you can find it in your heart to help Pam and Peter
and give any amount toward the purchase price, it would be amazing!

The living room is almost done....... here are some snippets. Light fixture is almost picked out, down to two, thinking that it will ordered in the coming days. Still needs some accessories but it is finally coming together. You have seen the bar cart...Love that I was able to use glass from my collection.

I have an old secretary from my Great Aunt that is not fancy but it fills a corner in the room. The picture is very old, from my Grandmother. Not sure where it came from but I suspect she bought it when she lived in Ithaca right after the War, at Cornell. I hung these too low and will move them when the light fixture is hung.

I bought this small table from The Kellogg Collection last winter. The striped trunk is French, old, I bought it 15 years ago here in Virginia.

This was recovered...

The fireplace and mantel still need some work. The picture was painted by my Father's Niece who lives in Atlanta and is quite an accomplished artist. She painted it for my old living room but it works here too.

The lamps I bought online last winter after a frantic search to find them (no one had them anymore). They were a bargain but the shades were cheap so I put very nice silk shades on them, spending almost as much for the shades as I did for the lamps. Cheap lampshades are a "no no" - you can always pick them out.

This fabric from Clarence House is so adorable and adds some fun and whimsy to the room. You can't tell here but it is embroidered. I love it!

Closer look at my lamps. The sofa is recovered in a velveteen fabric which gives some weight to the room. It brings out the deep blue in the rug.

I needed to buy two chairs and I wanted something different. I fell in love with these but had to paint them as they were the wrong color.

This small lamp came from a store in Buckhead. Love it!

I am also painting a mirror in blue and gold that will hang over the bar cart. When everything is done, I will do a final post. Stay tuned.......

Wednesday, October 21, 2015

If this doesn't make you run to your local needlepoint store, then I don't know what will. Christmas is indeed just around the corner, two months around the corner, to be exact. Love this finished stocking from my friends at Po's Point in Charlotte, NC.

Tuesday, October 20, 2015

I think I'd put this on and never take it off until spring arrives. And as cold as it's been this week in the morning, I could use it. And it comes in seven colors, to satisfy the Southern Prep in all of us. See it here. Make mine aqua!

Here's another style if you don't like all that texture and this one comes in ten colors!

Thursday, October 15, 2015

Wow! Mary hit the ball out of the park this week when she nailed the top two spots in hunt night for her hometown hunt, Sewickley. Based in Pittsburgh, Mary Palmer shows, rides and hunts (and she works for a living too). She bested the field and walked away with the Leading Rider Award for hunt night.

If you are not familiar with Hunt Night, at the Pennsylvania National Horse Show (one of the top shows in the country), the hunts come together and show over a course that would be found in the hunt field. The horses must truly be "hunt horses" and the riders must be members of a hunt. It's very popular and competitive. It's a great way to promote the sport and the hunt people are some of the funnest people I've been around anywhere. They know how to have fun. Congratulations Mary Palmer. Great job!

Monday, October 12, 2015

I love equestrian-themed dresses and while we're on the subject I'll let you in on a little secret. Two of the very best sources are in Kentucky. Wonder where all the women shop for the Derby, the Breeder's Cup? Monkees of Lexington and the Keeneland Gift Shop. They have the BEST selection. Here are some of my picks.....

All of these came from one of those two places. This one is at Monkee's. I love it with the navy coat. It's made by Julie Brown but it has sold out on her website. So you'd better hurry if you want this one. Monkee's!

I love this one too, from Barbara Gerwit. See the dresses from Keeneland here.

This one is also by Julie Brown and you can buy it on her website as well. Monkees also sells it. See the Monkee's Facebook page here.

Thursday, October 8, 2015

Who says direct mail doesn't work anymore? I received a small catalog in the mail this week from J McLaughlin and thumbed through it while cooking dinner and viola, appeared this adorable reversible fur vest. Wish I hadn't seen this....

There were some other cute things that would add to the fall wardrobe like this wool scarf:

If you like their equestrian styling then you'll want to look at these shirts which are on sale right now:

And I loved this dress which comes in many color combinations. A great staple for a not too cold climate.